JUNIOR Witter is sweating on the outcome of an appeal to the World Boxing Council which could book him the biggest fight of his life.

Witter hopes a WBC panel will rule this month that he is made the new mandatory challenger for their light-welterweight title held by American superstar Arturo Gatti.

Gatti is looking for a new opponent for his televised June 11 title defence after talks with former champion Floyd Mayweather broke down this week.

And the American could be forced into facing Witter if the Bradford man is promoted above current number two Gianluca Branco - who pulled out of a prospective title eliminator against Witter scheduled for Los Angeles last month.

Witter's promoter Mick Hennessy confirmed he is trying to lure Gatti to England with an audacious é1.5million offer to stage the fight in Nottingham.

Hennessy said: "After what Junior did to Lovemore N'Dou he has become a big name in America and Gatti would be a marquee super-fight.

"I would love it to be in England but there is also television to consider so we are prepared to be reasonable and if necessary go to the States."

Hennessy insists the WBC have no option but to relegate Branco after his unexplained withdrawal less than a week before the fight on the Bernard Hopkins-Howard Eastman undercard.

"If Branco was kept at number two it would be an absolute disgrace because he pulled out for no apparent reason," Hennessy added.

"Since he fought Gatti in January last year, Branco has had two minor fights in Italy against two guys I have never heard of.

"Junior has won the European title against a world-class fighter, defended it in style and gone to the States to do a job on N'Dou."

Witter's chances of landing a fight with Gatti have been boosted significantly by the three-fight Stateside co-promotional deal Hennessy has signed with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

De La Hoya, who praised Witter's points win over N'Dou, said: "Everyone knows Arturo is a true warrior but if he wants to be known as a true champion he should fight a world-class opponent like Junior Witter.

"Personally I think it would be a very tough fight for Arturo because Junior has substantial advantages in speed and power over him."

Meanwhile Mayweather is fuming over Gatti's snub, insisting he was ready to sign for the fight before his rival pulled the plug.

And Mayweather's promoter Bob Arum is now set to lobby the WBC for Gatti to be stripped and for his man instead to the meet the number one-ranked contender.

Which is another reason why Witter is waiting impatiently for the WBC's appeals committee to reach their verdict later this month.